Islamabad, June 2022. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) with the support of the European Union and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Islamabad organised a 3-day inter-agency workshop on gender for Pakistan’s Border Management agencies.
Mid to upper management officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan Customs and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) participated in the workshop which was aimed not only at raising gender awareness, but also collecting feedback on the working experiences and challenges faced by both male and female officers at Pakistan’s borders.
This was the second in a series of workshops under a broad gender mainstreaming programme aimed at improving gender mainstreaming in the internal and external aspects of the agencies functions. Czech Ambassador H.E Tomáš Smetánka opened the workshop with a formal address to the participants highlighting the importance of gender issues within law enforcement agencies and reiterating his ongoing support to the Gender programme. In addition, the expert team delivering the gender programme has consisted entirely of retired Czech law enforcement and gender experts.
Topics under discussion during the workshop included gender concepts, the history and current situation of gender mainstreaming in law enforcement agencies as well as the operational aspects of gender in border management including the role of men and women in policing, prejudices, myths, stress management and harassment at workplace. The potential challenges that female law enforcement officials face and its timely mitigation was also discussed during the course of the workshop.
Efforts by Pakistan’s border management agencies, the European Union and ICMPD to strengthen gender mainstreaming will continue throughout the year, with further workshops for senior border officials of border management agencies planned, with the aim of preparing recommendations for further strengthening gender roles in managing Pakistan’s borders.
This programme is implemented within the framework of the “Integrated Border Management in the Silk Routes Countries” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The project aims to support the countries of the Silk Routes region, including Pakistan, to build more effective and efficient border management systems, and in doing so strengthen the capacity of state authorities to combat irregular migration, encourage safe migration, and enhance trade and prosperity across borders.
Further information: https://www.icmpd.org/our-work/projects/integrated-border-management-in-the-silk-routes-countries-ibm-silk-routes
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